Celebrating Generosity: Guilford Thanksgiving
Over Thanksgiving, RBC partnered with the staff of Guilford Elementary School to host a Thanksgiving dinner for the students and their families. Over 700 people enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal, many for the first time. Every person left full, happy, and grateful. We are so thankful for your generosity and your faithfulness. The staff at Guilford sends their thanks for your continued amazing support! Thank you for being a generous church.
The Marriage You Want
The Bible starts with a marriage and ends with a marriage. We are God’s image bearers – male and female – we were designed to become one. Even though the culture has changed, God’s design has not.
Michael Easley
Maybe you’d like to turn a good marriage into a great marriage. Or maybe you’re in a struggling marriage and need help, hope and direction. Or perhaps you’re just about to begin the journey of marriage and want to set out in the right direction.
Wherever you are in the journey of marriage, we invite you to join us the weekend of January 27-28, 2017 for our annual marriage conference. Author and speaker Dr. Michael Easley will help us review the biblical basis of God’s specific design for marriage and share how we can re-align our expectations toward His ideas. Michael is husband to Cindy, dad to four, pastor to Fellowship Bible Church in Nashville, and host of the podcast, Michael Easley inContext.
We invite you to join Michael and his wife Cindy on this journey of The Marriage you Have vs. the Marriage you Want! Renew, realign and re-calibrate your relationship into a new set of expectations that are both realistic and biblical. In addition to the conference itself, we would also like to encourage you to take the opportunity to stay overnight at the beautiful Hilton Doubletree at our discounted rate. You can choose to stay in-between the Friday night and Saturday morning conference sessions or for the entire weekend. It’s a great opportunity to disconnect and relax without the travel.
The cost of the Marriage Conference is only $45 per couple. Register here by Christmas Day to receive a $10 discount. Hotel accommodations for one or both nights can be made through this Conference Registration as well. We hope to see you there!
– RBC Marriage Ministry Team
Celebrating Generosity: First Fruits
Because of the generosity of over 800 volunteers who did 150 jobs, our First Fruits project raised over $41,000! Food and gift cards were personally delivered to 35 families and another 35 will receive food cards in the next few days. Excess funds will be used to provide several scholarships to local high school students and bless the staff of several area high schools. Thanks to all who donated directly, provided jobs and participated that day to bring joy (and food) to many hurting families in our community. Thank you for being a generous church!
Celebrating Generosity: Solid Ground
Because of your generosity, Reston Bible Church can host classes like Solid Ground, where many can explore the firm foundations of the Christian faith. Thank you for being a generous church.
VIDEO: Post-Election Considerations
Here are some post-election considerations from Pastor Mike as we interact on social media. As you interact with those around you – even (or especially) those with whom you disagree – consider how you might live out these these words from Colossians 3.
Colossians 3:1-17
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(From the English Standard Version, emphasis added)
Sunday Rewind | 10.23.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
YOUR LOVE NEVER FAILS (Romans 8:28)
Skinner, McClarney | Thankyou Music
FOREVER REIGN (Lamentations 5:19)
Ingram, Morgan | Hillsong Music Publishing
IN YOUR PRESENCE (Deuteronomy 31:6)
Brown, Williams, Gatch, Brock, Furtick, Joye | Elevation Worship Publishing
HOSANNA (Mark 11:9-10)
Ligertwood (Fraser) | Hillsong Music Publishing
CORNERSTONE (Psalm 18:2)
Mote, Morgan | Hillsong Music Publishing
TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 4
Spiritual food is greater than physical food. Learn, love and live the Word of God to reap the fruits thereof.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- How important would you rate the Bible in the life of a Christ-follower?
- Read and discuss Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 4:12, and Psalm 119:1-24. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What do you observe about the Scriptures from these verses? What other verses can you think of that directly teach us about the Word of God?
- Would you say you have an appetite for God and his Word? How does one develop or acquire this appetite?
- How is the Word of God a light for our path (Psalm 119:105)?
- How can we know the voice of God?
- What is one verse that has shaped your life in a profound way?
- How does the Holy Spirit and the Word of God work in tandem?
- Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the goodness of His Word. Ask Him to help you learn, love and live His Word.
Sunday Rewind | 10.16.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
GREAT THINGS (Isaiah 12:5)
Cartee, Furtick | Elevation Worship Publishing
UNSTOPPABLE GOD (Matthew 17:20)
Brown, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
BE THOU MY VISION (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
Norsworthy, Hull, Byrne | Heartsong Music
BUT GOD (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Bleecker, Hall, Chandler | Bleecker Publishing
OUR GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4:9-10)
Houston, Ligertwood | Integrity Music
TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 3
Naked and ashamed, we are far more broken that we are willing to admit. Shame sculpts the soul and gives birth to fear. Only the gospel paves the way back.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- Would you consider yourself a vulnerable person? Is it easy for you to open up to others? Why or why not?
- Read and discuss Genesis 2:25-3:13. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God? What do you observe about shame from these verses?
- Share a time when you were ashamed. How does shame drive us away from vulnerability?
- How does shame “sculpt the soul” and give birth to fear? What does fear lead us to do? What kind of people does fear lead us to be?
- How do we hide from God, others and ourselves?
- In what ways do we tend to cover our brokenness? What are your go-to “fig leaves”?
- How does scripture provide us with a reference point through which to view ourselves, others, and the world?
- How does the gospel of Jesus call us out of shame, fear and self-atonement?
- Read and discuss Hebrews 12:1-2. What shame in your life do you need to despise? Where do you need to be vulnerable and honest with someone else? With yourself? With God? What is one step toward vulnerability that you can take in each of these areas? Spend some time in prayer in prayer about this and ask the members of your group to help you be accountable to take those steps.
Sunday Rewind | 10.9.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
FOREVER (Revelation 17:14)
Pierce, Gifford, Wilson, Johnson, Taylor, Jobe | Bethel Music Publishing
HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE (Galatians 6:14)
Townend | Thankyou Music
GREAT THINGS (Isaiah 12:5)
Cartee, Furtick | Elevation Worship Publishing
O PRAISE THE NAME (Romans 5:8)
Hastings, Ussher, Sampson | Hillsong Music Publishing
NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD (Ephesians 2:13)
Lowry | Public Domain (Arrangement by Citizens and Saints)
GOOD GOOD FATHER (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
Brown, Barrett | Sixsteps Music
TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 2
You can’t see spiritual warfare, but you can observe its fruit.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- Read and discuss John 8:42-47, Ephesians 6:10-20, Ephesians 2:1-9, 2 and 2 Corinthians 10:1-6. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God?
- What do these scriptures tell us about spiritual warfare? How do they reveal something we otherwise would not know about?
- What do you think of when you hear the phrase “spiritual warfare”? Does this line up with what the scriptures reveal?
- What firsthand experience have you had with spiritual warfare?
- The world takes the truth it learns and either denies it or twists it. How have you observed this?
- What weapons of spiritual warfare does the enemy wield against us? What weapons of spiritual warfare do we have at our disposal?
- What is one specific area of spiritual warfare that you are currently struggling through? What weapon do you need to wield in this struggle? Spend some time in prayer together about this.
Sunday Rewind | 10.2.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
COME THOU FOUNT (Psalm 16:11)
Robinson | Public Domain
GREAT THINGS (Isaiah 12:5)
Cartee, Furtick | Elevation Worship Publishing
O PRAISE THE NAME (Romans 5:8)
Hastings, Ussher, Sampson | Hillsong Music Publishing
ONLY KING FOREVER (1 Timothy 1:17)
Brock, Brown, Furtick, Joye | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
TEACHING: The Hard Truth, Part 1
Tourists go with the current of this world. Pilgrims go against it.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- Read and discuss Hebrews 11:8-16. What do these verses tell us about us? What do these verses tell us about God?
- What’s the difference between a pilgrim and a tourist? What are the parallels of this analogy in the Christian life?
- Compare and contrast tourists and pilgrims in these areas: time, money, relationships, suffering, sin. What other areas of life does this apply to?
- Discuss Pastor Mike’s definition of joy: Joy is the inner confidence that God’s grace will see me through my earthly pilgrimage. What is the difference between joy and happiness? What gives you joy?
- How does the gospel of Jesus Christ compel us toward joy? How does joy sustain us in our journey?
- How was Jesus the perfect pilgrim? What does that mean for us?
- Is there an area of your life where you’ve left the pilgrimage to become a tourist? Spend some time in prayer together about this.
Sunday Rewind | 9.25.2016
MUSIC & SCRIPTURE
Open Up the Heavens (Psalm 108:4-5) – Worth It All by Meredith Andrews
Always (Psalm 121:1-2) – Here For You by Kristian Stanfill (Passion)
But God (Romans 5:8) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Aaron Bleecker
Revelation Song (Revelation 5:12) – Passion 2013 by Kari Jobe
Come To Me (Matthew 11:28-30) – Look and See by Village Church feat. Lauren Chandler
TEACHING: Matters of the Heart – Lessons from Counseling
There are a lot of abnormal people in the world. Chances are, you are one of them.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS
- What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this Sunday?
- What do you believe defines you?
- Read and discuss Psalm 20:5, Psalm 139:13, Jeremiah 1:5, James 1:13-15, Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23, Luke 6:45, Psalm 37:4 and Psalm 115:3-8. What do these verses tell us about us? What patterns or trajectories do you notice? What do these verses tell us about God?
- “Because of sin, our greatest desire is to please ourselves.” How have you seen this to be true by observation and experience?
- “All Christians are counselors.” How do you react to this statement?
- “The heart will always struggle to be satisfied as it looks for something to worship.” Have you found this to be true? What examples can you think of?
- Are there ways in which you are currently trying to fill an eternal longing with a temporal thing?
- Are there any areas where you are suppressing the truth in unrighteousness by justifying ungodly behavior?
- What do you long for the most?
- “Anxiety is a liar.” Is there an area of your life where you need to take your feelings and set them next to the truth of Scripture? Spend some time together in prayer about this.